GCE Hire Fleet United Counties League Premier Division South

RUGBY BOROUGH          1             ST NEOTS TOWN           4

After just their second season back at Step Five St Neots Town will be promoted back to the next level as United Counties League Premier Division South champions. They achieved their target with three matches to spare, away at third placed Rugby Borough with a sparkling haul of four goals after falling behind early in the match. The spectacle was spoilt by a strong gusting wind that made their usual style of neat passing impossible but they persevered to recover from the shock of conceding an early penalty goal to score twice in the final quarter of an hour to give them the solid final scoreline their play had deserved. The home side battled well and only two outstanding saves from St Neots’ man of the match goalkeeper James Goff cemented this important result.

Manager Cameron Mawer was able once again to name an unchanged line-up and this solidity has been a feature of the sides’ eleven match winning run. Roared on by around one Hundred travelling supporters, St Neots finished strongly and will look forward to being presented with the league trophy at their next home match on Easter Saturday.

That early shock of conceding a penalty after just five minutes that was confidently tucked away by Daniel Fraser will have galvanised the visitors resolve who set about repairing the damage. Furlong, lively on the right flank, produced a searing shot that passed just beyond the far post and then at the other end James Goff had to race out of his area to clear when his defence had been breached. Joining his attack, Sam Willis cut in to see his net bound shot blocked by a defender and then after 21 minutes Harvey Williams was upended in the penalty area, but St Neots’ appeals were waved away when the Referee spotted a late offside flag. The visitors were now having the better of the play and Rhys Thorpe twice cut into the penalty area – the second time to be brought down by a defender. For the second time in the game the Referee pointed to the penalty spot and Sam Willis (above left) stepped up to confidently level the scores after 37 minutes to the delight of the travelling supporters. Williams was again brought down in the area but once again the offside flag saved the home side and then three minutes before the break St Neots struck a significant blow when leading scorer Rhys Thorpe (right) burst through the home defence with a burst of speed and when his first effort rebounded from the advancing keeper’s body, it fell kindly for the St Neots striker who was able to walk the ball into the net to put his side in front. On the balance of play this was well deserved.

Two minutes after the restart Goff had to be at his best to dive full length to turn a shot from Thabang Dube around a post but St Neots were quickly back in the ascendancy with Williams firing over the bar, and Kieran Barnes seeing his effort pass the wrong side of a goalpost.

An off balance Thorpe managed to send a close- range header high over the bar as St Neots dominated the attacking play, and then after 70 minutes Goff again came to his sides’ rescue when substitute Shad Riza went past two defenders to send a low shot just inside the far post.

Rugby now stepped up their attacking and another fine Goff save from Antonio Cristofaro kept St Neots ahead. Then, in the final fifteen minutes, as the home side appeared to tire St Neots took full advantage. After 78 minutes Rhys Thorpe again used his speed to breach the home defence to make the score 3-1 and five minutes later from a Murphy Culkin free kick, Charlie Bowen (above left)rose above the home defence to claim St Neots fourth goal and snuff out the home team’s resistance. At the final whistle the side celebrated with the enthusiastic travelling support.

 

 

Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in Association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – JAMES GOFF

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Neots Town:  Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs:  Baulk (for Harvey 85 mins), Butler (for Furlong 88 mins), Hatch (for Thorpe 90 mins), Fox (for Barnes 90 mins), and George.

Cards:  Furlong (Y – 29 mins), Tavernier (Y – 77 mins).

Goals: Thorpe 2 (42 & 78 mins), Willis – pen (37 mins), Bowen (83 mins).

 

Rugby Borough:  Meadows, Dawson, Fraser, Downes, Jackson, Todd, Dube, McGarry, Wilson, Grocott, Cristofaro

Subs: Henson (for McGarry 59 mins), Kolodynski (for Wilson 66 mins), Tellyn (for Todd 90 mins) Riza, and Sainsby.

Cards: Jackson (Y – 37 mins)

Goals: Fraser (5 mins)

Attendance: 178

Referee:  Nicholas Marriott

(John Walker)